How early is too early to be discharged from hospital after giving birth?

A longer post-birth stay in the wards could help many mothers, even if research remains inconclusive

‘I’m a chef and I forgot how to bake a cake’: why trauma often leads to brain fog and amnesia

Shock, stress and grief can have a devastating effect on memory – but there are ways to bring it back

The Country of the Blind review – a penetrating study of the loss of sight

Andrew Leland’s thoughtful, beautifully expressed memoir about losing his eyesight invites us to rethink ideas about identity and independence

‘He could have died’: family calls for better jaundice testing of black and Asian babies

Jaxson’s symptoms were initially dismissed by health staff in a case that could have had fatal consequences

Is sleep the canary in the coalmine – a clue to the health of our minds?

Sleep disturbance is a recognised risk factor for developing a host of psychiatric disorders. Going to bed is the best thing you can do for your brain right now

Don’t fret, neurotics – there are advantages to worrying

Negative mental chatter and anxious fantasies may not be all bad – they could bring benefits such as greater creativity and better health

Scientists find vital missing ingredient for healthy vegan diet – algae

Natural aquatic supplement could be used to make up for lack of key vitamin B12 in plant-based diets

‘They’re in the air, drinking water, dust, food …’ How to reduce your exposure to microplastics

No corner of the planet is free from minuscule fragments of plastic packaging, textiles or utensils. We ask scientists what this means for our health – and what we should do to protect it

Should I worry about how much processed meat I eat?

All those sausages, hotdogs, ham and salami can spice up your diet. Do they also increase the risk of cancer and Alzheimer’s?

Crisis in NHS maternity units revealed as 21 rated ‘substandard’

Care Quality Commission finds many services inadequate, needing improvement or shut over safety concerns